Event Details
Maslenitsa in Daugavpils: The Slavic Carnival of Eastern Latvia
Maslenitsa, also known as Butter Week or Pancake Week, is the oldest surviving Slavic folk holiday. It celebrates the farewell to winter and the arrival of spring, observed during the week before Orthodox Lent begins. In 2027, Maslenitsa runs from 8 to 14 March, with the final day, Sunday 14 March, serving as the traditional Grand Maslenitsa celebration.
In Daugavpils, the second largest city in Latvia and the cultural capital of the Latgale region, this festival has grown into the most vibrant spring celebration in the city. Every year, thousands of locals and visitors gather at Vienības laukums (Unity Square) in the city centre for a free open-air event filled with music, folklore, food and fire.
Highlights
- Free open-air folk festival at Unity Square from 12:00 noon
- Traditional blini (pancake) stands along Rīgas iela street
- Folklore performances from Latvian, Lithuanian and international ensembles
- Colourful Skomorokhi (Slavic jesters) performing throughout the square
- Free horse rides for children and adults
- Folk games, strength contests and traditional winter activities
- Burning of the winter effigy as the emotional climax around 15:00
- Craft and food market with Latgalian specialities
Program
The official programme opens at noon at Unity Square. The Russian Cultural Centre of Daugavpils, together with the city council and the Cultural Department, organises a rich stage programme of vocal and dance ensembles. Typical performers include groups such as Maļinovij zvon, Slavjanka, Rusiči and the Belarusian ensemble Ļanok, alongside guest performers from across the Baltic region.
Simultaneously, the pedestrianised Rīgas iela hosts a colourful market from 10:00 to 16:00, with pancakes, Latgalian food specialities, handicrafts and souvenirs. The emotional centrepiece of the day is the burning of the straw effigy, a roughly four-metre-tall figure symbolising winter, at approximately 15:00 — a ritual that drives away the cold and welcomes the new season.
Admission & Tickets
Maslenitsa in Daugavpils is a completely free event for all ages. There is no entrance fee for the stage programme, folk games or horse rides. Only food and drink at the market stalls involve any cost.
Daugavpils: Latvia's Hidden Gem of the East
Daugavpils, known historically as Dünaburg or Dvinsk, is a multicultural city on the banks of the Daugava river. With a majority Russian-speaking population and a long history as a crossroads of Latvian, Russian, Polish, Belarusian and Jewish cultures, it is a unique destination in the eastern Baltic. The city is also the birthplace of world-renowned painter Mark Rothko, honoured by the dedicated Mark Rothko Art Centre.
Visitor Tips
- Arrive by 11:30 AM to secure a good spot at Unity Square before the crowds gather.
- Daugavpils train station is just a 10-minute walk from Unity Square; regular trains from Rīga take approximately 3.5 hours.
- March in Daugavpils can still be cold and wintry with temperatures between 0 and 5 °C; dress in warm layers.
- Combine the festival with a visit to the Mark Rothko Art Centre, one of Latvia's top contemporary art museums.
- Hotels in Daugavpils are significantly more affordable than in Rīga; still, advance booking is recommended for festival weekends.
- The dominant language in the city is Russian, with Latvian widely spoken; basic Russian or Latvian phrases are helpful.
